Obituary: Paul McGeeDARDANELLE — Paul Elmer McGee, age 66, of Dardanelle, died Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2016, at his home. He was born March 19, 1951, at Contra Costa, Calif., to the late Richard Newman Sr. and Deloris Gene Terry. Survivors include two brothers, Ronald Chouinard, Richard Newman and one sister, Phyllis Spears (Robert) of Danville. Arrangements are by Cornwell Funeral Home and River Valley Cremations in Dardanelle. Online guestbook and condolences at ww...

Obituary: Tammy HendersonATKINS — Tammy Henderson, 51, of Russellville passed away Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2016, at Baptist Health in Little Rock. She was born May 10, 1965, in Dallas, Texas, daughter of the late Troy Gene and Cynthia Prince Hubbard. She enjoyed fishing, camping and watching her grandkids play ball. She was preceded in death by her husband, Rayburn Henderson; brother, Tony Eugene Hubbard; and her father, Troy Hubbard. She is survived by two sons, Jason Long...

Motivational speaker takes the stage at RSDJackie Brewton, a youth motivational speaker and founder and CEO of MotivationN3D, visited with Russellville middle school, junior high and high school students on Wednesday at the Center for the Arts. Brewton, a resident of Atlanta, Ga., and motivational speaker for 15 years, said she realized she wanted to do more while working in corporate America. “My first career was working as a senior HR manager for Procter and Gamble. I also volunteere...

Pope County Election Commission discusses workersThe Pope County Election Commission (PCEC) met last week and discussed the number of people it will need to work the Nov. 8 general election and the procedure for counting absentee ballots. Portia Short, commission chair, said she would like to see a few things changed in the process of counting absentee ballots. She said the first thing she would like to change is the start time of counting the absentee ballots. Before, counters started at 3 ...

Time to go: North Carolina urges evacuations before flooding GREENVILLE, N.C. — Police officers and firefighters in eastern North Carolina cruised low-lying areas and shouted a simple message from bullhorns: Get out before the floodwaters from Hurricane Matthew arrive. Thousands of people were ordered to evacuate, and officials warned that some communities could be cut off by washed out roads or bridge closures. In the city of Greenville, military trucks rumbled through leafy neighborhoods where orange ...

Police: 4 killed, 3 hurt in head-on crash in Arkansas OzarksBERRYVILLE, Ark. (AP) — Arkansas State Police say four people were killed and three others injured in a head-on collision in northern Arkansas. State police say the wreck happened Sunday afternoon on U.S. 62 east of Berryville in Carroll County. According to a preliminary report, a vehicle driven by 36-year-old Benita Langinbelik crossed the center line and crashed into a vehicle driven by 70-year-old Jack Rogers. State police say both drivers...

2 killed, Arkansas trooper hurt in Hot Springs car crashHOT SPRINGS — Authorities say two people were killed and an Arkansas State Police trooper was seriously injured in a car crash in Hot Springs. Hot Springs Police say the collision happened Monday night on Airport Road. Police say a car carrying two people collided with a state trooper's vehicle, killing the two people in the car. The trooper, whose name hasn't been released yet, was taken to a Hot Springs hospital. Authorities have not yet rel...

Candidate Q&A: Bill EatonEditor's note: The Courier reached out to the candidates vying for Russellville Alderman, Ward 2 Pos 1. The candidates were asked the same questions. Why are you seeking this position? For the past nine plus years, I have been involved as an alderman and as mayor in the positive things planned and currently occurring in Russellville. I want to move these present projects forward to completion: Aquatic Center, Convention Center, Weir Road area ...

Candidate Q&A: Mark TrippEditor's note: The Courier reached out to the candidates vying for Russellville Alderman, Ward 2 Pos 1. The candidates were asked the same questions. Why are you seeking this position? My desire is to use the passion I have for my hometown, personal experience, proven council leadership and involvement within the community to make a positive impact within our city. While serving on the Russellville City Council as your Ward 1, Position 1 Alder...

Property taxes due: Monday, Oct. 17Pope County Tax Collector Rita Chandler said Monday, Oct. 17, is the deadline for county residents to pay their personal property taxes. The actual deadline is Oct. 15, but since it falls on a Saturday this year, the deadline is forwarded to the next business day, which in this case is Monday. Chandler noted the Pope County Courthouse in Russellville will be open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. today through Friday and Monday, Oct. 17. Those who can'...

Mistletoe Market ready for ninth yearThe Boys & Girls Club of the Arkansas River Valley announces the 9th annual Mistletoe Market-shop for a Cause set for Friday and Saturday Nov. 4 and 5, 2016, at the L.V. Williamson Boys & Girls Club, located at 600 E. 16th St. in Russellville. The holiday shopping event will offer an array of merchants' gift items under one roof - with proceeds benefiting the Boys & Girls Club of the Arkansas River Valley. "For the past eight years this has be...

Norman Lecture Series presents Russellville native Steve FryerSteve Fryer, Arkansas Tech University alumnus and executive director of global guest services for Disney Consumer Products, will give a presentation as part of the Norman Lecture Series at his alma mater on Thursday. Fryer will speak from 7-8 p.m. in Ross Pendergraft Library and Technology Center room 300 at 305 West Q Street in Russellville. Admission will be free and open to the public. A native of Russellville, Fryer graduated from Arkansas...

Crews pull down old Arkansas bridge after implosion failsLITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — It turns out a 93-year-old bridge deemed structurally deficient wasn't so weak after all. Despite triggering explosives to bring down the Broadway Bridge between Little Rock and North Little Rock on Tuesday, a demolition crew needed five hours to fell the structure. Severing the steel arch and bridge deck should have taken about 30 seconds. Arkansas highway department spokesman Danny Straessle says the blasts weakened ...

Family: Former Arkansas Gov. David Pryor, 82, suffers strokeLITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Family members say former Arkansas governor and U.S. Sen. David Pryor is recovering in a hospital after suffering a stroke. The family issued a statement Tuesday saying the 82-year-old Pryor suffered a stroke Monday and underwent surgery "that appears to have been successful." The Democrat was Arkansas' governor from 1975 to 1979, and then served nearly 20 years in the U.S. Senate. He now serves on the board of trustee...

4-H increases number of kids reachedPhil Sims, County Extension Agent Staff Chair, recently announced 7,400 youth have been reached by 4-H activities and programs this year. “That’s a significant increase over our past year,” he said. “We’re really proud of that.” Robbie Rye, 4-H program assistant for Pope County, explained their calendar year runs from Oct. 1 through Sept. 30. The 7,400 children reached is in addition to the 4-H members and includes kids who participated in pro...

Obituary: Donald MuseDARDANELLE — Donald Ray Muse, age 64, of Ola died Sunday, Oct. 9, 2016, at Mercy Hospital in Fort Smith. He was born Aug. 1, 1952, at Amarillo, Texas, to the late William Monroe Muse Jr and Evelyn Nadine Brock. He was a U.S. Navy veteran and a truck driver for over 30 years. He loved to go hunting, fishing, horseback riding and playing with his dog. He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, James Nathaniel Dodson and two sisters, W...

ATU celebrates grant for food pantryArkansas Tech University hosted a reception last Wednesday at the Doc Bryan Student Services Center recognizing Tyson Foods, Inc., for a $67,760 grant that will allow Tech to fight hunger within its own population. The grant will assist in the creation of the Green and Gold Cupboard. The new pantry will provide access to meals for Arkansas Tech students, faculty members and staff members facing food insecurity, which is defined as lacking reli...

by
BY Sam Strasner
FOR THE COURIERThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley